Backend
What is Backend Development?
As mentioned above, backend development is what keeps the internet running behind the scenes.
Backend developers are primarily focused on how a website works. They write code that focuses on the functionality and logic powering the application they’re working on, and the technology they work on is never directly seen by users.
The tech of the back end is a combination of servers, applications, and databases.
Responsibilities of backend programmers could involve writing APIs, writing code to interact with a database, creating libraries, working on business processes and data architecture, and much more. It often depends on the specific role and company.
Front-end Vs Backend Programming
Intuitively, the other side of backend development is the front end.
The key difference is that while backend developers build how a website functions, front-end programmers build and design the interface, determining how the site looks to users.
Backend web development lays the foundational code that enables websites to process the actions that users take on the front end and deliver the correct information in return.
Neither works without the other—you need the back end to make the front end work, and you need the front end so people can actually access and interact with the website.
Backend developers typically earn higher salaries than front-end developers, as backend languages tend to be more technical. The average salary for a backend developer is $101,619/yr, while front-end developers earn $76,929/yr.
There are also full-stack developers, who can work with both backend and front-end technologies. They’re the jack-of-all-trades of the programming world.
Learn more about what’s involved in front-end development in this post.
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Types of Backend Development Languages
Backend programming can either be **object-oriented (OOP) **or functional.
The former is the technique that focuses on the creation of objects. With object-oriented programming, statements should be executed in a particular order. Popular OOP languages are Java, .NET, and Python,
The latter is a technique that is more “action”-based. Functional programming uses declarative language, which means that statements can be executed in any order. It’s commonly used for data science, and popular languages are SQL, F#, and R.
Languages can either be** statically typed** or **dynamically typed. **The former is more rigid, but better at catching errors, whereas the latter is more flexible but allows for variables to change types (which could account for unexpected errors). This article by Hacker Noon goes into greater detail if you’re interested in finding out more.
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7 Popular Backend Programming Languages
Now, let’s take a look at some specific backend development languages and what they’re used for.
Backend Language #1: Java
Java is the world’s most popular programming language—and for good reason. Not only is Java extremely versatile (its use spans from smartphones to smart cards); it has also been used by developers for over 20 years.
What makes Java so versatile is the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). With many development languages, compiling a program creates code that may run differently if the computers it’s run on are different. This is not an issue for Java because of the JVM. The Java Virtual Machine acts like a middle layer that can run code on any computer, regardless of where the said code was compiled.
While Java is extremely popular with desktop and business software developers, it is less beginner-friendly than a language like Python. This is because it’s verbose and requires more code to build out features; as a result, it’s less rewarding to those just starting out.
That said, Java’s longstanding popularity and varied use mean that its community is large. Consequently, any questions you may have about the language will likely have forum threads and online tutorials dedicated to answering it.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH JAVA
Java backend technologies can be used to achieve a lot of objectives, including these and more:
(Android) mobile application development
Website development
Database connectivity
Image processing
GUI based programs
Networking
💼 COMPANIES THAT USE JAVA
There are some big names among companies that use Java backend technologies, including these:
Airbnb
Uber
Pinterest
LinkedIn
Groupon
eBay
Evernote
FitBit
Hubspot
💵 AVERAGE SALARY FOR JAVA DEVELOPERS
As of April 2020, Java developers made an average of $79,137/year in the US with salaries ranging from $57k to $117k.
🗺️ WHERE TO LEARN JAVA: THE ULTIMATE JAVA MASTERY SERIES ON CODE WITH MOSH
What the course covers: Java, explained clearly from the basics to the advanced concepts. As the course instructor, Mosh, says: “No fluff. No sloppy programming or phoney shortcuts.”
Course facts:
Course Name: The Ultimate Java Mastery Series
**Platform: **Code With Mosh
Instructed by: Mosh Hamedani
Price: $49
Skill level: Beginner
Discover all the different programming languages you can use for backend development
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Backend Language #2: PHP
PHP powers 78.2% of all websites whose server-side programming language we know. The language was first released in 1995 when there were few options for building dynamic websites.
Since PHP is dynamically typed, it means you’re able to come up with a variety of solutions and workarounds for one problem. It also means that the same bit of code can mean something different depending on the context, which makes programs written in PHP tricky to scale and sometimes slow to run.
PHP is a great language to learn for those who are just starting out for a number of reasons:
It’s more forgiving of errors, which means that you’re able to compile and run a program until you reach a problematic part.
There is an abundance of resources dedicated to the language as a result of the large community and tool support. The language undergoes updates, so ensure you’re learning from an up-to-date tutorial.
The setup is relatively easy compared to a language like Ruby on Rails. You can download MAMP (for Macs) or WAMP (for Windows) and you should be ready to go in 5 minutes.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH PHP
According to the PHP website, you can:
Collect form data
Generate dynamic page content
Send and receive cookies
Write command line scripting
Write server-side scripting
Write desktop applications
💼 COMPANIES THAT USE PHP 💼
Here are some companies using PHP in their dev teams:
Facebook
Lyft
Mint
Hootsuite
Viber
Buffer
DocuSign
💵 AVERAGE SALARY FOR PHP DEVELOPERS 💵
As of April 2020, PHP developers made an average of $82,007/year in the US, with salaries ranging from $55k to $100k.
🗺️ WHERE TO LEARN PHP: BEGINNING PHP TRACK ON TEAM TREEHOUSE
What the course covers: By the end of this series of courses, you’ll be able to build your first PHP websites. Covers PHP arrays and control structures, functions, basic error handling, and more.
Course facts:
Course Name: Beginning PHP Track
**Platform: **Team Treehouse
Instructed by: Many
Price: $25/month with a Team Treehouse subscription
Skill level: Beginner
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Backend Language #3: .NET (C#, VB)
ASP.NET is Microsoft’s answer to Sun Microsystem’s (now, Oracle) Java. The web application framework is used to build websites using languages like Visual Basic (VB), C#, F#, and more.
Its MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern allows backend development duties to be handled by a controller, which interacts with a model to process data. The result is then presented to the view for display as a frontend web page.
Made open source in 2016, .NET can integrate with iOS, Linux, and Android by way of .NET Core. The code is highly stable and reliable, making it a popular choice for businesses. Because it is a Microsoft product, there is great support available if you ever get lost.
C#
C# is a high-level computer language, which means it allows developers to write programs that are independent of a particular type of computer. Languages like these write and read more like human languages rather than machine languages.
C# is popular among developers because it has the power of C++ (another backend language) but is easier to use because it error-proofs commands that tend to trip up C++ users.
Programmers on Stack Overflow have praised the language for its “cool syntax.”
VB
VB is a programming language that uses a graphical user interface (GUI) to modify code written in the BASIC programming language. It’s an easy language to start with because of its straightforward syntax and its widespread use. As a result, it’s often used for prototyping.
The drawback of coding with VB is the large amount of memory required to install and run GUI-based development tools.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH .NET
Build desktop applications
Create mobile apps
Build web applications and games
Work with Big Data
And more
💼 COMPANIES THAT USE .NET
A few of the companies using .NET as a programming language:
Microsoft
Starbucks
Docplanner
Stack Overflow
💵 AVERAGE SALARY FOR .NET DEVELOPERS
As of April 2020, .NET developers made an average of $68,524/year in the US, with salaries ranging from $44k to $111k.
🗺️ WHERE TO LEARN .NET: C# AND .NET CORE FOR BEGINNERS ON UDEMY
What the course covers: You’ll learn the fundamentals of the C# language and .NET Core — from the syntax and structure of a C# program to deploying .NET Core console applications, and much more.
Course facts:
Course Name: C# and .NET Core for Beginners
**Platform: **Udemy
Instructed by: Pontus Wittenmark
Price: $114.99
Skill level: Beginner
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Backend Language #4: Ruby
Ruby on Rails (or Ruby) is a web development language built on top of the Ruby programming language. Ruby on Rails has a set of tools that allow you to simply create basic tasks (e.g. you’re able to create a basic blog with one line of code).
Ruby involves little backend work, enabling developers to create and launch applications quickly. It is similar to Python in that it’s fantastic for prototyping. Ruby grew in popularity in the early 2000s as a result but has declined since then.
Ruby is open source, which means it can be modified and built upon.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH RUBY
Automate repetitive tasks
Build web applications
Build mobile applications and games
Create prototypes
And more
💼 COMPANIES THAT USE RUBY
Here are some of the companies using Ruby as a backend language:
Airbnb
TaskRabbit
Kickstarter
RapGenius
Scribd
AngelList
💵 AVERAGE SALARY FOR RUBY DEVELOPERS
As of April 2020, Ruby developers made an average of $91,542/year in the US, with salaries ranging from $54k to $136k.
🗺️ WHERE TO LEARN RUBY: BASICS AND FUNDAMENTALS OF RUBY! ON MAMMOTH INTERACTIVE
What the course covers: At the end of this course you will have real-world Ruby apps to use in your portfolio, even if you’ve never coded before in your life. Covers everything you need to know about Ruby.
Course facts:
Course Name: Become a Web Developer: Learn the Basics and Fundamentals of Ruby!
**Platform: **Mammoth Interactive
Instructed by: John Bura
Price: $500
Skill level: Complete beginners
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Backend Language #5: Python
There’s a reason Python is the fastest-growing programming language. The versatile language is used for both web and desktop development. Like with Java, there are plenty of tutorials and guides online, making it an accessible language for those just starting out.
Furthermore, its syntax is simple and easy to understand compared to other backend languages. Those who program with Python have lauded it for its “elegant,” “readable,” and “beautiful” code on Stack Overflow.
As mentioned above, Ruby and Python share similarities. They are both dynamically typed, open source, and object-oriented languages. The key differences between the two are the differences in popularity (Ruby is declining whereas Python is skyrocketing) and the tools in Ruby’s language.
Learn about the differences between Python 2 and Python 3 here.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH PYTHON
Some of the most popular uses for Python include:
Cross-platform shell scripting
Simple web development
💼 COMPANIES THAT USE PYTHON
Among the biggest companies using Python as a programming language are:
Uber
Pinterest
Mozilla
Spotify
Quora
Pandora
Netflix
Asana
💵 AVERAGE SALARY OF PYTHON DEVELOPERS
As of April 2020, Python developers made an average of $76,526/year in the US, with salaries ranging from $58k to $107k.
🗺️ WHERE TO LEARN PYTHON: COMPLETE PYTHON DEVELOPER IN 2021: ZERO TO MASTERY
What the course covers: In this course, you’ll build 12+ real world Python projects you can show off, one of which is an actual portfolio website using Python that your future employer and customers can contact you at.
Course facts:
Course Name: Complete Python Developer in 2021: Zero to Mastery
**Platform: **Zero To Mastery
Instructed by: Andrei Neagoie
Price: $29/month with a Zero to Mastery subscription (or $264/year)
Skill level: Beginners
What is backend development and how does it work?
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Backend Language #6: SQL
Structured Query Language or SQL (pronounced ‘sequel’) is the most common query language. SQL is used to interact with databases.
SQL is great for beginners to learn since it’s a declarative language. A declarative language allows coders to ‘declare’ the results they would like to see, without specifying the steps or process for said result.
A query language like SQL is great for those who want to take advantage of the wealth of knowledge stored in databases.
Learn more about SQL in the LTCWM guide.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH SQL
SQL is used to access, manipulate, and create databases.
Those who work closely with data can benefit from learning SQL. This includes financial analysts, data-driven marketers, or online entrepreneurs. SQL is an ideal stepping stone for those who want to dive into the world of Big Data. For some inspiration, here is a list of jobs that use SQL the most.
💼 COMPANIES THAT USE SQL
Since SQL is a query language, its use is broad and widespread. If a company or enterprise has a database, it is extremely probable that they are using SQL to query it.
💵 AVERAGE SALARY OF SQL DEVELOPERS
As of April 2020, SQL developers made an average of $81,622/year in the US, with salaries ranging from $61k to $130k.
🗺️ WHERE TO LEARN SQL: INTRODUCTION TO SQL ON PLURALSIGHT
What the course covers: You’ll learn how to query data and shape results, create and modify data in tables, and learn how to actually modify tables themselves.
Course facts:
Course Name: Introduction to SQL
**Platform: **Pluralsight
Instructed by: Jon Flanders
Price: $29/month with a Pluralsight subscription
Skill level: Beginners
(Read our full review of Pluralsight here.)
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Backend Language #7: JavaScript
Not to be confused with Java, JavaScript is a language that can be used for both the front end and back end.
Because the language is so flexible, objects created in this language are slow. It is also difficult to maintain and scale, as with most dynamically typed languages.
Having said that, the language is ubiquitous, which means the community is large—affording you a slew of resources and plenty of opportunities for employment if you know JavaScript backend technologies.
💡 WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH JAVASCRIPT
JavaScript can be used to build many types of sites and software, including:
Websites
Mobile apps
Desktop applications
Games
Web servers
Presentations
And more
💼 COMPANIES THAT USE JAVASCRIPT
Famous companies using JavaScript include:
Airbnb
HotelTonight
eBay
Square
Asana
💵 AVERAGE SALARY OF JAVASCRIPT DEVELOPERS
As of April 2020, JavaScript developers made an average of $76,526/year in the US with salaries ranging from $58k to $107k.
🗺️ WHERE TO LEARN JAVASCRIPT: CODING FOR CATS ON MAMMOTH INTERACTIVE
What the course covers: A (cat-themed!) crash course in learning to code in JavaScript (with cat-related examples).
Course facts:
Course Name: Coding for Cats | Cat-Themed JavaScript Course
**Platform: **Mammoth Interactive
Instructed by: John Bura
Price: $99
Skill level: Beginners
🗺️ LAUNCH SCHOOL’S INTRODUCTION TO PROGRAMMING WITH JAVASCRIPT
What the course covers: This course will provide you with a solid foundation in general programming and problem solving with a programming language, and teach you modern web application development from the ground up.
Course facts:
Course Name: Launch School’s Introduction to Programming with JavaScript
**Platform: **Launch School
Price: $199/month
Skill level: Beginners
Check out this beginner’s guide to backend development
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Start Studying to Be a Backend Developer
In this overview, I hope you were able to get a clearer picture of backend development and the capabilities of each language included. This is by no means an exhaustive list of the backend languages that are out there. If you’re interested in learning more, Learn to Code With Me and GoSkills have easy-to-understand resources to guide you further.
If you are considering pursuing a career in development, I would highly recommend taking a look at the job descriptions of the roles you’re interested in and make a note of the languages that appear the most. Then, start studying those using backend language courses like the ones highlighted above.
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